More M65 lights to be switched off to save money

MORE of the M65 is to have its lights turned off, despite warnings from the police that the move would put motorists at risk.

Lancashire County Council had already proposed to turn off the lights between midnight and 5am to save £65,000 a year on the section it manages between junction 10, Burnley, and 14 , Colne.

Now Highways Agency bosses want to turn out some of the lighting on the part of the M65 that runs from junction one, Bamber Bridge, through to junction 10.

The changes, which also affect motorways across the country, will come into effect in March.

While bosses have confirmed the M65 will see lights turned out, they have not revealed the exact sites.

The agency said its research had found that street lighting reduced the risk of crashes by only 10 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said: “Only sections of motorway between junctions and which have a good safety record and low traffic flows in the early hours will be considered, and
junctions themselves will remain lit.”

The 10 per cent figure is disputed.

Latest research published in the scientific journal the Cochrane Library found that street lighting reduced the number of fatal crashes by 77 per cent and other collisions by between 32 and 55 per
cent.

And police pointed to the increase in traffic in recent years and the fact that ambulances now use the motorway more frequently as key reasons why the proposals should be rejected.

Inspector Phil Cottam, head of the motorway policing unit for Lancashire, said: “We feel that any measure that enhances public road safety should be maintained at all times.

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“We feel it’s unfair on the public that unless there are good reasons for the lighting to be switched off it should be maintained on the motorway.”

The county council will make a decision on whether to turn off the lights on its stretch next month.

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Comments (7)

Next time i come past,I will put you 10 bob in metre,No lights,What next no lines on the road.

Next time i come past,I will put you 10 bob in metre,No lights,What next no lines on the road.bed and breakfast man !

Next time i come past,I will put you 10 bob in metre,No lights,What next no lines on the road.

Score: 0

Stone Cold Steve Austin says...5:27pm Thu 29 Jan 09

What a joke. What price someone's life?

What a joke. What price someone's life?Stone Cold Steve Austin

What a joke. What price someone's life?

Score: 0

DaveBurnley says...7:22pm Thu 29 Jan 09

Once again it's down to saving a few quid in the short term. When people are killed, the clowns will come up with the usual garbage about 'Unforeseen circumstances' and 'Lessons will be learnt'.

Once again it's down to saving a few quid in the short term.
When people are killed, the clowns will come up with the usual garbage about 'Unforeseen circumstances' and 'Lessons will be learnt'.
DaveBurnley

Once again it's down to saving a few quid in the short term. When people are killed, the clowns will come up with the usual garbage about 'Unforeseen circumstances' and 'Lessons will be learnt'.

Score: 0

full moon says...10:37pm Thu 29 Jan 09

Vehicles do come with their own headlights! They seem to cope adequately with englands unlit roads. Not only is this a cost saving but it must mean reduced carbon and light pollution!!

Vehicles do come with their own headlights! They seem to cope adequately with englands unlit roads.
Not only is this a cost saving but it must mean reduced carbon and light pollution!!full moon

Vehicles do come with their own headlights! They seem to cope adequately with englands unlit roads. Not only is this a cost saving but it must mean reduced carbon and light pollution!!

Score: 0

Totally says...10:45pm Thu 29 Jan 09

There is little comparison between a 2 or 3 lane stretch of motorway and a country road. This move is likely to cause problems for the emergency services when they have to deal with accidents on the unlit stretches of road. Like so many other cost-saving exercises this one is going to put added pressure on our over-stretched emergency services and endanger lives ... but at least it will make the figures look good, eh?

There is little comparison between a 2 or 3 lane stretch of motorway and a country road.
This move is likely to cause problems for the emergency services when they have to deal with accidents on the unlit stretches of road. Like so many other cost-saving exercises this one is going to put added pressure on our over-stretched emergency services and endanger lives ... but at least it will make the figures look good, eh?Totally

There is little comparison between a 2 or 3 lane stretch of motorway and a country road. This move is likely to cause problems for the emergency services when they have to deal with accidents on the unlit stretches of road. Like so many other cost-saving exercises this one is going to put added pressure on our over-stretched emergency services and endanger lives ... but at least it will make the figures look good, eh?

Score: 0

RAyzer says...8:27am Fri 30 Jan 09

i said before,my work mate broke down on hard shoulder in freezing fog..R.A.C couldnt find her for an hour till frog went..there was no lights on MOTORWAY..ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!ANOTHER STUPID IDEA!!save money??stop councillers and M.PS ridiculous pay/perks

i said before,my work mate broke down on hard shoulder in freezing fog..R.A.C couldnt find her for an hour till frog went..there was no lights on MOTORWAY..ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!ANOTHER STUPID IDEA!!save money??stop councillers and M.PS ridiculous pay/perksRAyzer

i said before,my work mate broke down on hard shoulder in freezing fog..R.A.C couldnt find her for an hour till frog went..there was no lights on MOTORWAY..ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!ANOTHER STUPID IDEA!!save money??stop councillers and M.PS ridiculous pay/perks

Score: 0

brendaleyland says...9:50pm Thu 5 Feb 09

How dare they jepodise th motorists life for the sake of a few quid. As a motorist I have been subjected to every government and local authority abuse they could think of. They lure us into paying back door taxes through spped cameras, traffic vultures - sorry, I mean wardens. heavy fuel taxez, increased road taxes, parking fees. The motorist deserve what few crumbs of comfort they have, which are few. leave the lights alone. cut back on less important things such as all the freeby travel junkets that the councillors enjoy.

How dare they jepodise th motorists life for the sake of a few quid. As a motorist I have been subjected to every government and local authority abuse they could think of. They lure us into paying back door taxes through spped cameras, traffic vultures - sorry, I mean wardens. heavy fuel taxez, increased road taxes, parking fees.
The motorist deserve what few crumbs of comfort they have, which are few. leave the lights alone. cut back on less important things such as all the freeby travel junkets that the councillors enjoy. brendaleyland

How dare they jepodise th motorists life for the sake of a few quid. As a motorist I have been subjected to every government and local authority abuse they could think of. They lure us into paying back door taxes through spped cameras, traffic vultures - sorry, I mean wardens. heavy fuel taxez, increased road taxes, parking fees. The motorist deserve what few crumbs of comfort they have, which are few. leave the lights alone. cut back on less important things such as all the freeby travel junkets that the councillors enjoy.

Score: 0

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